Southern Africa Adventure

Enjoy a African adventure from South Africa through Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe

Get set for an adventure packed with majestic wildlife, remote desert landscapes, noble tribespeople and natural wonders. From the stunning beauty of Cape Town, to a burnt orange sunset over Namibia's Fish River Canyon, to a river cruise through Chobe National Park and the famous Kruger National Park - this ultimate Africa tour will create memories to last a lifetime. Canoe down the Okavango Delta in Botswana, embark on a game drive in Etosha National Park and feel the raw power of Victoria Falls on this journey filled with the very best of southern Africa.

Why you'll love this trip

Spot exotic wildlife on a full-day game drive through Etosha National Park

Learn about the hunter-gatherer traditions of the San Bushmen outside of Grootfontein

Glide down Botswana's Okavango Delta on a mokoro

Stay two nights at Victoria Falls – enough time for just a glimpse of everything this amazing destination offers.

Track rhinoceros’s on foot with a local expert guide in Matabos National Park - an exhilarating way to experience the wildlife of Zimbabwe.

Camp under an Africa sky within Kruger National Park. You can’t get much closer to nature than that!

Is this trip right for you?

To get to your Okavango Delta campsite, you'll travel by mokoro, a dugout canoe, to pass over the shallow waterways. Mokoros are small but stable, and local tribesman will be there to guide you.

The Limpopo Province stay, where you will meet and interact with the Hananwa people and their traditions, is a heavily culture-based activity. This is a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in the local way of life – so keep an open mind.

Wildlife viewing requires some sacrifice, like getting up before day break for dawn game drives. However, the lack of sleep is worth it for the exhilaration and excitement of spotting your first lion or rhino!

We use our purpose-built overland vehicles for the duration of this trip. This multi-purpose truck allows for great game viewing with large sliding windows. As such the trucks do not have air-conditioning and conditions can be dusty and hot.

The going can be slow over the long distances and often bumpy roads. A little bit of patience will go a long way towards your enjoyment of this beautiful land.

This is a participatory camping trip. You will be expected to set up and take down you own tent as well as assist with food preparation and cleaning.

As the early bird catches the worm, the early camper sights the animals. There will be many early starts either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days.

Gallery

Itinerary

Sawubona! Welcome to South Africa. With its stunning coastline, modern cityscape and nearby mountains, Cape Town is one of Africa's most exciting cities. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1. You can arrive at any time as there are no activities planned until this important meeting. Please ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, consider arriving a day early so you are able to attend. If you are going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have these to provide to your leader.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Optional Activities

Cape Town - Bo-Kaap Museum - ZAR30

Cape Town - District Six Museum - ZAR25

Cape Town - Harbour cruise - ZAR200

Cape Town - Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens - ZAR45

Cape Town - South Africa National Gallery - ZAR35

Cape Town - South African Museum - ZAR27

Cape Town - Table Mountain Hike - ZAR720

Cape Town - Table Mountain Aerial Cable - ZAR250

Cape Town - Robben Island tour - ZAR260

Meals Included

Leaving Cape Town behind, travel up the Western Cape (approximately 6 hours). Sit back, relax and enjoy the sprawling scenery. Tonight you will stay on a working farm. This is a great chance to gain an insight into everyday life in this remote part of South Africa. Your camp tonight has shared facilities and upgrades are possible (subject to availability).

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Optional Activities

Klawer - Winery visit & tasting - ZAR100

Meals Included

Journey to the Orange River, the beautiful natural border between South Africa and Namibia (approximately 9 hours). En route you will pass through Namaqualand, which is famous for its wildflowers that spring up from late July to mid September. Traditionally known as the Gariep River, the Orange River is the longest in South Africa (2,200 km). Its source is high up in the Drakensberg mountain range in Lesotho, and it flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Alexander Bay in South Africa. Your camp tonight has shared facilities and optional upgrades.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Meals Included

This morning there is the chance for an optional canoe adventure on the Orange River. Floating leisurely down the stream is a great way to discover the beauty of this region. Head further west into the desert lands of Namibia towards Fish River Canyon (approximately 4–5 hours). At 500 metres deep and over 160 km long, Fish River Canyon is one of the largest canyons in the world. At any time of year there are remarkable photographic opportunities here as we watch the color of the granite rocks change as the sun goes down. The camp tonight is equipped with showers and flush toilets.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

Fish River Canyon - Canyon entrance

Optional Activities

Orange River - Canoe trip - NAD495

Meals Included

Today's drive, toward the fabled dunes of Namibia, is quite long (approximately 10 hours). You will have the opportunity to stop at a market or shop to stock up on supplies before tomorrow's bush camp. Upon arrival, stretch your legs and take in the exciting desertscape. You will be situated in the most famous part of the Namib Desert, among the vast dune fields, the most spectacular of which are found near the Sesriem Canyon. Get an early night in preparation for your dawn hike tomorrow. Your camp has shared facilities, and no upgrades or WiFi are available.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Meals Included

Wake up before dawn and scramble to the top of the dunes for a dramatic sunrise view across a vast sea of sand. The colour changes are simply incredible and provide a spectacular setting for your brunch. The dunes are stunning, with magnificent red/orange tones from the brightly coloured sands. They are the highest in the world and home to a plethora of animal life. Afterwards you will jump in the back of a pickup truck for a trip to Sossusvlei, the incredible salt and clay pan just nearby (approximately 30 minutes each way). You'll have plenty of time to explore this mysterious desert oddity. In the afternoon, drive to your bush camp in the heart of the Namib Desert (approximately 4 hours).

Accommodation

Camping (with basic facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

Sossusvlei - 4x4 Tour

Sesriem - Sand dunes visit

Meals Included

Continue to Swakopmund (approximately 4 hours). Surrounded by the massive dune fields of the Namib Desert on three sides and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, Swakopmund is an ideal place for outdoor activities. The township has an interesting German-Namibian atmosphere, which makes it a pleasant town to simply walk around and explore. Your accommodation here is a cosy desert bungalow. Each of these bungalows sleeps six people, and bathroom facilities will be shared. WiFi is available.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Meals Included

With free time today, it's worth checking out the Germanic architecture and taking advantage of some excellent souvenir shopping. If you're after a dose of history and culture, you can stop in at the lighthouse and visit the Swakopmund Museum. Active types and thrill-seekers might like to take advantage of the many outdoor activities on offer – this town is the adventure-sports mecca of Namibia. (It's important to check with your leader if you are unsure about the safety of any of these options, as some may not be recommended by Intrepid.)

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Optional Activities

Swakopmund - Swakopmund Museum - USD2

Swakopmund - Sea kayaking - USD85

Swakopmund - Seal and dolphin cruise - USD60

Swakopmund - Fishing trip - USD120

Swakopmund - Sand boarding - USD50

Swakopmund - Horse riding - USD65

Swakopmund - Quad Bike Trip (2 hours) - USD80

Meals Included

With another free day in this beautiful seaside town, you might like to do some reading, relaxing and swimming. Alternatively you can venture further afield – perhaps to the Okakambe Trails or the Camel Farm (both located in the same area, around 12 kilometres east of town). A horse ride or camel ride is a great way to see the desert from a different perspective.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Optional Activities

Swakopmund - Fishing trip - USD120

Swakopmund - Sand boarding - USD50

Swakopmund - Horse riding - USD65

Swakopmund - Seal and dolphin cruise - USD60

Swakopmund - Quad Bike Trip (2 hours) - USD80

Swakopmund - Swakopmund Museum - USD2

Swakopmund - Sea kayaking - USD85

Meals Included

Travel to Spitzkoppe (approximately 6 hours). Experience the sight, sound and smell of thousands of olive-coloured seals on the shores of Cape Cross while travelling up the Atlantic Coast. Visit one of the most stunning areas of Namibia, the wild lands around the mountain of Spitzkoppe – 'the Matterhorn of Namibia'. Although you shouldn't try to climb to the top, there are some excellent hikes and guided walks throughout the area, which is rich in plant life and even has some bush paintings to be found. Be sure to look out for the sunset from your bush camp this evening – the landscape is known to take on dazzling oranges and reds.

Accommodation

Camping (with basic facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

Cape Cross Nature Reserve - Cape Cross seal colony

Meals Included

Travel to Etosha National Park (approximately 9 hours), stopping at a market or shop and ATM if required. Etosha is among the world's premier places to view wildlife. A wide range of Southern Africa's wildlife roams here, including all the big carnivores and the five rare or endangered species: black rhino, Hartmann's mountain zebra, black-faced impala, roan antelope and the tiny Damara dik-dik. Tonight there is an option to take an evening game drive in the park before spending the night at the particularly spectacular Okaukuejo Camp. The camp overlooks a floodlit waterhole visited by many different species throughout the day and night. Note that upgrades are not available at tonight's accommodation.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Optional Activities

Etosha National Park - Evening Game Drive - ZAR550

Meals Included

Enjoy a full-day game drive in Etosha National Park. Game viewing in the park is relatively easy due to the man-made waterholes and the large, sparsely vegetated pans. The bushland surrounding the pans is difficult to see through, but there are enough clearings, pans and waterholes to usually allow for some sightings. Namibia has protected its game reserves against poaching, which means significant numbers of elephants, antelope and other herbivores reside here. This evening you will spend the night at Namutoni Camp (upgrades are available, subject to availability).

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

Etosha National Park - Full Day Game Drive

Meals Included

Continue to your next camp which is located just outside Grootfontein (approximately 5 hours). This will be your base for visiting the San Bushmen tomorrow. Arrive at your camp, stretch your legs, perhaps enjoy a cool drink and kick back with your fellow travellers. There is the possibility of an upgrade, but WiFi is not available.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Meals Included

Embark on a 180-kilometre round-trip to visit the San Bushmen. You will go out walking with some of the tribe, listening to their stories and songs. You'll soon discover that they communicate in a unique and fascinating 'clicking language'. The Bushmen are the oldest ethnic group in Namibia, having inhabited Southern Africa for an estimated 20,000 years. Around 30,000 of them live in Namibia, but only 2,000 of them still follow a traditional way of life. The San have a deep understanding of nature and ecology, living in harmony with their environment.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

Grootfontein - San Bushman cultural experience

Meals Included

Head to Bagani, where you will set up camp for the night. Bagani is a small, friendly town with some good hiking trails along the river and plenty of nice spots in which to relax and soak up the ambience. This area is the homestead of the local Mbukushu kings. Your camp tonight has flush toilets, showers, WiFi and optional upgrades.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Meals Included

Drive across the border into Botswana and head south along the Okavango Panhandle (the narrowest part of the delta) to Seronga. Here you'll leave your vehicle and join your transport for the journey into the delta (approximately 4 hours). Boarding boats out into the swamps, travel to Gao Island to meet your mokoro team and start exploring the Okavango Delta with them. Each mokoro (small dugout canoe) takes two people and is poled along through the meandering waterways by a local tribesman. Punting along past birds and lily pads, you'll hear hippos occasionally piercing the peaceful atmosphere with their charming grunts. On the first night here you'll camp on an island away from civilisation (with no WiFi or upgrades available).

Accommodation

Camping (with basic facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

Okavango Delta - Mokoro safari

Meals Included

Continue your trip around the delta and then return to Gao Island before heading to the relative civilisation of Umvuvu Camp with its (usually) hot showers and small bar. Today there is an option to take a nature walk with your guide. This is a great chance to discover the beautiful natural surrounds, gain some insight into the history of the local area and take some photos.

Accommodation

Camping (with basic facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

Okavango Delta - Nature Walk

Meals Included

Return to Bagani for the night. There will be time to relax, or to take part in one of the many activities on offer. Bagani offers a range of boat trips and fishing excursions. There are also many excellent hiking trails to explore. Ask your leader about how to take up one of these options. Your camp has flush toilets, showers and WiFi. Upgrades are available (subject to availability).

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Optional Activities

Bagani - Boat trip - USD25

Meals Included

From Bagani you will embark on quite a long drive (approximately 8 hours). But your destination, the incredible Chobe National Park, will be well worth it! Enter Botswana at Goma border, which is also the gateway to the park. Take an optional cruise down the Chobe River – one of the best ways to witness some of the park's many animals. Your camp is located outside of Chobe National Park and has flush toilets, showers, WiFi and an ATM. Upgrades are available (subject to availability).

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Meals Included

Enjoy an early-morning game drive. Adventuring through the park, you will have the opportunity to get up close to the wildlife. With some luck you will spot a variety of creatures – lions, buffaloes and any number of exotic birds. Botswana's first national park is famous for its high concentration of elephants, so keep an eye out for them. They can often be seen swimming in the Chobe River. The river also attracts chettahs, hippos and crocodiles; the latter like to sun themselves by the water's edge. In the afternoon perhaps take an optional boat cruise to gain a different view of these amazing animals.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

Chobe National Park - Dawn 4x4 game drive

Optional Activities

Chobe National Park - Boat Cruise - BWP270

Meals Included

Travel on to Victoria Falls (approximately 3 hours), crossing the border into Zimbabwe in time to have lunch on the banks of the Zambezi. Vic Falls' staggering curtain of water is about a mile wide, falling 108 metres into a narrow gorge below. In the wet season, the spray created can rise up an incredible 400 m and the falls become an impressive raging torrent. In the dry season, the view of the falls is unobstructed by spray and you can see little islets in the river below. Tonight you'll enjoy a final dinner with your fellow travellers. Your camp has WiFi, flush toilets, showers and optional upgrades.

Your leader will take you to a local activity centre where a range of activities will be on offer. We have not risk assessed all activities and only those listed in our trip notes are recommended. It is against company policy for leaders to facilitate the booking of any activities that have not been risk assessed or do not adhere to our company’s Responsible Travel policy and ethos. This includes organising transport to and from these activities in our vehicles.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls entrance

Meals Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Special Information

You may notice businesses offering an optional 'Walk with the Lions' experience. We ask all Intrepid travellers to avoid this activity as it is contrary to our Responsible Travel policy. While wildlife viewing is a big part of many of our itineraries, we strive to only view animals in their natural habitats and to do so with the greatest level of respect. The lion walking industry directly contributes to the captive breeding and canned hunting of lions.

Read more about animal welfare and our ‘Born to Live Wild’ pledge here:
http://www.intrepidtravel.com/animal-welfare

Today is a free day to enjoy the many activities on offer. If you are interested in the optional helicopter flight ( 12 minutes or 25 minutes ) we endorse the following operator only: Zambezi Helicopter co CAA Zimbabwe. Your leader can help you arrange this.

Accommodation

Camping (with shared facilities) (1 night)

Optional Activities

Victoria Falls - Canoe trail (full day) - USD185

Victoria Falls - Flying fox - USD50

Victoria Falls - Gorge swing - USD110

Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls entrance - USD35

Victoria Falls - Helicopter flight (25 mins) - USD334

Victoria Falls - Helicopter flight (12 mins) - USD175

Victoria Falls - Village & township tour - USD50

Victoria Falls - Whitewater rafting (full day) - USD140

Victoria Falls - Whitewater rafting (half day) - USD140

Meals Included

Breakfast

Special Information

As this is a combination trip, your group leader and the composition of your group will change at this location. There will be a group meeting to discuss the next stage of your itinerary and meet your new fellow travellers.

Leave Vic Falls behind and head to Hwange National Park (approximately 6 hours, depending on traffic). You will explore this stunning wildlife arena in an open 4X4 vehicle. Hwange National Park became the royal hunting grounds of the Ndebele warrior-king Mzilikazi in the early 19th century and was set aside as a national park in 1929. Today Hwange boasts a tremendous selection of wildlife with over 100 species of mammals and nearly 400 bird species. The elephants of Hwange are world famous – here you'll find one of the largest elephant populations in Africa. At tonight's camp there is WiFi as well as optional accommodation upgrades (subject to availability).

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

Hwange National Park - Game drive

Meals Included

Make tracks for Matobos this morning (approximately 7–8 hours). Take a short detour through the town of Bulawayo, glimpsing its beautiful colonial buildings, before heading to your camp for the next two nights. Home to a large population of black and white rhinoceros that can be tracked on foot, Matobo National Park is also the site of the grave of Cecil John Rhodes, the founder of Rhodesia and the De Beers diamond company. The Matopos area has great spiritual and cultural significance to the local people and there are many sites within the park where important ceremonies still take place. Your campground tonight has shared facilities, WiFi access and optional upgrades.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Meals Included

Depart Bulawayo for Matobo Hills. This morning have a unique experience tracking rhinos on foot with the help of your guides. Here there will be the chance to spot other game (the park is home to klipspringers, leopards, warthogs and springhares among many others). You can also learn about the various local plant and trees, wild pear and paperbark among them, while discovering bushman paintings and intriguing rock formations. After a cold lunch venture to nearby African villages and meet some of the local community.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

Matobo National Park - Guided walking safari

Meals Included

Get up early this morning and hit the road for Moremi Gorge (approximately 6-7 hours, depending on the border crossing). We will need to cross back into Botswana today due to the unreliability of the border crossing direct to South Africa. After arriving at the campsite and settling in, perhaps take a short hike in the beautiful surrounds and visit the gorge. The camp tonight is basic with limited hot water in winter.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Meals Included

Breakfast

Dinner

Special Information

We cross into Botswana today as the border crossing is more reliable than going directly to South Africa.

Depart early for Blouberg in South Africa's Limpopo province (approximately 6–7 hours). You should arrive in the late afternoon. Here at the base of a mountain, where there are no roads, you'll find the Hanawa people, a small village community, many of whom still lead an age-old way of life. Take a walk with your local guide, following paths along the base of the Blouberg Mountains and listening to stories of the tribe. You'll visit a Lutheran missionary village (Bochum) and then some local village taverns (shebeens) where locals will provide an evening meal – perhaps mazie and watermelon (Thopi), chicken-based stews (Malana) or a green vegetable called marogo. You can also sample their traditionally brewed beer. Note that vegetarians will have limited options – speak to your leader to arrange an alternative. There are optional upgrades at camp tonight.

Accommodation

Camping (with basic facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

Blouberg- Cultural Dinner

Meals Included

Journey to Kruger National Park (approximately 8–9 hours). There will be an opportunity to stop at a shop or market for any supplies you might need. One of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa, Kruger National Park is home to over 500 bird species, 100 species of reptile and 150 mammal species, including the Big Five and the endangered African wild dog. Your wildlife experience begins as soon as you enter the park. You will head straight into prime game viewing areas, glimpsing anything from antelopes and eland to cheetahs and rhinos. Your campground, situated within the park itself, has shared facilities, hot and cold water, and optional upgrades.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Optional Activities

Kruger National Park - Evening game drive - ZAR240

Meals Included

Breakfast

Dinner

Special Information

On occasion, especially during the peak months of May, June, July & December we are unable to secure campsites within the Kruger National Park. In this instance we will camp at a backpackers outside the park.

Rise early and have a light breakfast of coffee and rusks before embarking on a full-day game drive in the truck. Most of the day will be spent game viewing, bird watching and stopping at various waterholes and viewpoints. Depending on the season, you might catch sight of a saddle-billed stork with its distinct red beak, or the blue waxbill which is commonly found foraging for seeds in the scrub. In the afternoon when it's warm, take some time out to relax. Later on there is an optional night drive with the park guide to spot nocturnal animals and perhaps even a night-time predator or two.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

Kruger National Park - Game drive

Optional Activities

Kruger National Park - Evening game drive - ZAR240

Meals Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Special Information

On occasion, especially during the peak months of May, June and July we are unable to secure campsites within the Kruger National Park. In this instance we will camp in a bordering private game park.

It's time to head back to Johannesburg (approximately 9–10 hours). There's plenty of time to stop and explore along the way. You will take in amazing vistas at the viewpoint over Blyde River Canyon and view the Three Rondavels. This trip finishes on arrival in Johannesburg at the finishing point hotel. No accommodation is provided for tonight, but this can be arranged when you book this trip. If you're catching an outgoing international flight, it's important to book it for 10 pm or later, to allow for delays.

Next trip departures

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available on this trip. Please refer to your booking agent for further details. Please note, the single supplement does not apply for nights 7 to 9 in Swakopmund.
2. This is a combination trip made up of two shorter trips. This means the composition of your group will change in Victoria Falls as your crew and some group members leave and new ones join you.
3. This trip finishes upon arrival in Johannesburg on Day 30. Please do not book any flights until after 10pm this evening.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Stephanie Kwok

Noel Carter

South Africa in tents is the way to see this place.... it is a program for teamwork and cooperation. If you cannot cooperate with others and be part of a team it's not for you. Africa is magnificent and deserves the greatest respect from those willing to appreciate the opportunity to meet its wonderful people and share its natural beauty.